Trimeresurus jerdonii
| Trimeresurus jerdonii |
Red spotted pitviper, T. j. xanthomelas
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| Scientific classification |
| Kingdom: |
Animalia
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| Phylum: |
Chordata
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| Subphylum: |
Vertebrata
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| Class: |
Reptilia
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| Order: |
Squamata
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| Suborder: |
Serpentes
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| Family: |
Viperidae
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| Genus: |
Trimeresurus
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| Species: |
T. jerdonii
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|
| Binomial name |
Trimeresurus jerdonii
Günther, 1875 |
| Synonyms |
- Trimeresurus jerdonii - Günther, 1875
- Lachesis jerdonii - Boulenger, 1896
- Lachesis melli - Vogt, 1922
- Trimeresurus jerdonii melli - Mell, 1931
- T[rimeresurus]. j[erdonii]. jerdoni - Bourret, 1936
- Trimeresurus jerdoni - M.A. Smith, 1943
- Trimeresurus jerdoni bourreti - Klemmer, 1963
- P[rotobothrops]. jerdoni - Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1983
- Protobothrops jerdonii jerdonii - Welch, 1988
- Protobothrops jerdonii bourreti - Welch, 1988
- Protobothrops jerdonii meridionalis - Welch, 1988
- Protobothrops jerdonii xanthomelas - Welch, 1988[1]
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- Common names: Jerdon's pitviper.[2]
Trimeresurus jerdonii is a venomous pitviper species found in India (Assam), Burma, Tibet, China and Vietnam. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[3]
Description
Males grow to a maximum total length of 835 mm with a tail length of 140 mm; females 990 mm with a tail length of females 160 mm.[4]
Scalation: dorsal scales in 21 longitudinal rows at midbody (rarely 23); snout length a little more than twice diameter of eye; head above, except for large internasals and supraoculars, covered by small, unequal, smooth scales that are feebly imbricate or juxtaposed; first labial completely separated from nasal scales by a suture; internasals separated by 1-2 small scales; 6-9 small scales in line between supraoculars; 7-8 upper labials, third and fourth beneath eye, in contact with subocular or separated by at most a single series of small scales; ventrals: males 164-188, females 167-193; subcaudals: males 50-78, females 44-76.[4]
Geographic range
Found from Assam in India, through northern Burma to Tibet, China (Hupeh, Szechwan and Yunnan) and Vietnam. The type locality given is "Khasi Hills, India.[1]
Subspecies
| Subspecies[3] |
Authority[3] |
Common name[2] |
Geographic range[2] |
| T. j. bourreti |
Klemmer, 1963 |
Bourret's pitviper |
Northwestern Vietnam (in the provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau, and possibly also in adjascent China (Yunnan). |
| T. j. jerdonii |
Günther, 1875 |
Jerdon's pitviper |
Southwestern China (in the provinces of southern Xizang (Tibet), western Sichuan and Yunnan), northeastern India, Burma (Chin and Kachin state), and northeastern Nepal. |
| T. j. xanthomelas |
Günther, 1889 |
Red spotted pitviper |
Central and southern China, in the provinces of Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei and Guangxi. |
See also
References
- ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b c Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN 3-937975-00-4.
- ^ a b c Trimeresurus jerdonii (TSN 634917). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 25 May 2007.
- ^ a b Leviton AE, Wogan GOU, Koo MS, Zug GR, Lucas RS, Vindum JV. 2003. The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of Myanmar, Illustrated Checklist with Keys. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 54 (24): 407-462.
Further reading
- Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp.
- Gumprecht, A.; Tillack, F.; Orlov, N.L.; Captain, A. & Ryabow, S. 2004 Asian Pit Vipers. Geitje Books, Berlin, 368 pp.
- Günther,A. 1875 Second report on collections of Indian Reptiles obtained bv the British Museum. Proc. Zool. Soc. London,1875: 224-234.
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